Libous pleads not guilty to making false statements

Senate Deputy Republican Leader Thomas Libous has pleaded not guilty to a federal charge of making false statements to the FBI.

From Jonathan Bandler and The Journal News:

State Sen. Thomas Libous pleaded not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Lisa Margaret Smith, who heard his son plea earlier Tuesday, in federal court in White Plain. He was released on a $50,000 bond co-signed by his wife, Frances, who is vice chair of the state Worker's Compensation Board.

Libous was hit with a single felony count of making false statements earlier Tuesday. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's office has accused Libous of repeatedly lying to FBI special agents on June 24, 2010, about an alleged scheme to get his son a job at the Westchester County law firm of now-disbarred attorney Anthony Mangone.

In exchange, according to the indictment, Thomas Libous promised to deliver so much work to the firm it would have to "build a new wing." (At this point, Libous is only facing the lone false-statements charge; he has not been directly charged for his role in the alleged scheme.)

Matthew Libous is also facing felony charges, including impeding or obstructing the IRS and filing false tax returns. He pleaded not guilty earlier Tuesday.